Extensive literature reviews showed that
pacifier usage is associated with early cessation of breast feeding, as well as respiratory
infection. This cross sectional study was a part of the bigger study of The Third National Health Morbidity Survey conducted throughout Malaysia in 2006. Survival and pearson cox regression was done to find association between
pacifier user and breast feeding duration. Logistic Regression was done to find association between variables of interest. The prevalence of
pacifier use was 32.9%. Chinese children reported significantly higher usage of
pacifier (95% CI; 47.5, 58.7) as well as those resided in urban area (95% CI;32.5,37.7). One third of
pacifier user had stopped breastfeeding at 6 months of age. Those with
pacifier users were significantly shorter in breast feeding duration and significantly associated with non exclusivity in breastfeeding. Those without
pacifier user were significantly associated with ever breast fed.(p value=0.001). There was no significant association between
pacifier use with acute respiratory
infection. Factors such as ethnicity and residential are non modifiable whereas modifiable factor such as
pacifier use is certainly needed to be addressed at maternal and child health care level.